Plot to turn Nepal into another Afghanistan, Iraq: Prachanda

Kathmandu: Maoists supremo Prachanda has
rubbished claims that the former Nepal rebels were providing
arms and training to Indian Naxalites, saying such are part of
plot to turn the country into another Afghanistan and Iraq.

Prachanda, the Chairman of Unified Communist Party of
Nepal-Maoist, dismissed allegation that his party has been
imparting training to the Indian Naxalites in Nepal, the
Kantipur online reported today.

The 56-year-old former prime minister was quoted as
saying that the rumours were spread as part of plot to turn
Nepal into another Afghanistan and Iraq.
He said claims that Maoists were providing arms and
training to Indian Naxalites was an "out an out lie" and his
party is not involved in such things.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sujata
Koirala last week confirmed the receipt of a letter from
Indian Ambassador to Nepal Rakesh Sood in which he expressed
concern over Maoists providing arms and training to Naxalites
in India, the media reported here.

Sood had handed over separate letters to Nepal Home
Secretary and Foreign Secretary in late October, expressing
India`s concern, it said quoting Indian embassy sources.
Describing it as a "serious matter" if is was true,
Koirala had told PTI that the government will investigate the
matter.

According to the last week`s report in The Kathmandu
Post, some 200 Naxalites from India have taken part in
training being provided by Nepalese Maoists in different
districts of Terai, including Nawalparasi, Dang, Udaypur and
Makwanpur.

Prachanda, known for his anti-India rhetoric, has
frequently accused India of "naked interference" in Nepal and
dictating to its leaders.

The Maoist party has demanded the revision of the
landmark 1950 Indo-Nepal Peace and Friendship Treaty and
resolving Kalapani and Susta border disputes between the two
countries.

Last week, Prachanda said his party wants to "turn
over a new leaf" in ties with New Delhi. The Maoists chief,
who has returned from Beijing last month, said he was advised
by Chinese leaders to improve relations with India.

"We want to positively and constructively engage with
India to address these issues, we want to turn over a new leaf
in our relations," he told the Kathmandu Post daily.

Maoists, who joined mainstream politics in 2006 after
a decade-long insurgency, won the maximum seats in 2008
elections and briefly led the government before Prachanda quit
as premier following differences with the country`s President
over the sacking of the then army chief. The Nepal Army has denied claims by the Maoists that
the military had submitted reports about the former rebels
providing training to Indian Naxalites under the instruction
of Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal.

The allegation was totally false and baseless, Army
spokesperson Brig. Gen. Ramindra Chheri told PTI.
The army’s reaction comes in the wake of the Maoists?
allegation that Nepal Army, India and the caretaker government
have hatched conspiracy to defame the former rebels.
There is no truth in such allegations, its completely
baseless propaganda, Chheri said.

The army has also raised the issue during a key
defence meeting today. "We have raised the issue during
Thursday’s meeting of the Joint Monitoring Coordination
Committee (JMCC)," the spokesperson said.

The JMCC is a body of representatives from the Nepal
Army, former Maoists guerrilla force, People?s Liberation Army
and the United Nations tasked to monitor the activities of the
ex-combatants.

"We have clearly presented our views during the JMCC
meeting that the allegation was completely false and
baseless," he said.